MARTIN Gray welcomed a winning start to his York City managerial career, but insisted again that his players must get fitter.

The Minstermen opened the scoring through Jon Parkin halfway through the first period of their home match with Brackley, but did not manage another goal attempt before the veteran striker fired in a thumping free kick to secure a 2-1 triumph on 86 minutes.

In between, Aaron Williams had deservedly levelled for the visitors, who had started the afternoon sat third in the National League North table.

Summing up the first fixture of his Bootham Crescent reign, ex-Darlington chief Gray reasoned: “Brackley are a very strong team and we started really well, but I want us to be the fittest team in the league and fatigue crept in, which is when you make mistakes. It was so good to get a win, but we’ve got to get stronger and learn more about game management by being disciplined and hard to break down, although I was pleased with how our senior players kept good shape.”

Ex-Sunderland midfielder Gray sprung a series of selection surprises, preferring Luke Simpson in goal to Jon Worsnop and giving Aidan Connolly his first outing since the end of August when he was placed on the transfer list at his own request.

Louis Almond and Connor Smith, meanwhile, did not make the bench with Gray pointing out: “I judge players on the training ground and, if you don’t work hard there, you can’t expect to play on a Saturday.

“That’s how I work and the players will get used to it. The keeper didn’t have a lot to do but, what he had to do, he did alright and I thought Aidan was great.

“He is a game-changer. It had been a long time since he had played so he got tired, but he gives you something different.

“There’s so much to build on with players like him. I thought he was very good in the first half and he will get better.

“He can play up front, out wide or off the front man and is very intelligent.”

Ryan Edmondson, meanwhile, was given his senior debut at the age of 16, finishing the game up front alongside Parkin after replacing Amari Morgan-Smith in the 73rd minute.

On that decision, Gray said: “I know about Ryan. I saw him on Tuesday and I’m big on the academy.

“We changed to 4-4-2 to become more compact to see the game out and it was nice to give the kid a chance on a great occasion.”

Left-back David Ferguson also donned City colours for the first time after following Gray from Darlington, with the latter adding: “He had a steady debut. He got through the game and he will get better when he gets to know the other players.”

The new Bootham Crescent boss went on to admit that he was pleased with both of his team’s goals – the first courtesy of a well-practiced corner routine after Dan Parslow helped on a Sean Newton delivery to the near post and the second following a moment of individual brilliance.

“I am big on set-pieces and the first goal was straight from the training ground, so it was great to see that come off,” Gray confessed. “Then, for the winner, Jon bought himself a free kick and I think, if his strike had been on Match of the Day, it would have been Goal of the Month.

“You want your forwards taking free kicks and, to see him put it in the top corner, was a great feeling.”

Gray also dedicated the victory to City chairman Jason McGill, explaining: “He has put his faith in me and Dave (Penney) and he deserves those three points.”

Following a hectic sixth-tier schedule of 14 games in the opening two months, Gray is now looking forward to putting in more hours on the training field with his new charges, as the club have no Tuesday-night fixtures currently scheduled during the remainder of the campaign “It’s good to have got through the madness of games every Tuesday night and we’ll have a double session now on Monday,” he revealed.

Midfielder Adriano Moke is expected to take part, having only been substituted against Brackley with a tight calf as a precautionary measure.